title: Percutaneous central venous catheterization in premature infants: a method for facilitating insertion of silastic catheters via peripheral veins.
abstract: Peripheral venous cannulation is the preferred method of inserting central venous silastic catheters in premature infants. The standard techniques are placement of the catheter using a breakaway introducer needle or introduction of the catheter through a cannula. In extremely low birth weight infants (<1000 g) successful cannulation is impeded by the small size of the vessels. After repeated attempts, both procedures can be time-consuming and stressful to the infant. We present a modified insertion technique of the standard 2-French silastic catheter with an increased success rate, thus reducing insertion time, stress to the infant, and costs. The method uses the tip of a 20-gauge cannula as dilator/introducer for the 2-French catheter. This tip is inserted into the vessel with a standard 24-gauge cannula. After successful insertion of the dilator/introducer cannula, the standard 2-French catheter can then be advanced easily.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care, University of Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanconi
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012826:Silicone Elastomers
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers